MØRLAND & DEBRAH SCARLETT TO REPRESENT NORWAY!

...and Norway opts for Mørland & Debrah Scarlett. Another brilliant choice from the Scandinavians tonight! And so that concludes the national final season. Of course we have some songs yet to be revealed - but this is the last actual show of the 2015 season. I must catch up with the full performances as I was watching Mello tonight :-)

Vienna 2015: Super Weekend #8!

It's the last weekend of the 2015 national final season. Sad times! Sweden and Norway will select their entries tonight; and tomorrow the entries from Azerbaijan, Russia and Albania will be presented. San Marino and Australia will follow on Monday....

SWEDEN
It's the night everyone's been waiting for. The grand final of Melodifestivalen 2015! Twelve acts will be figting for the ticket to Vienna but I think it's going to be a three horse race between Måns Zelmerlöw, Eric Saade and Jon Henrik Fjällgren. Maybe. Here's an in depth review of the songs.

1. Samir & Viktor – Groupie
2. JTR – Building It Up
3. Dinah Nah – Make Me (La La La)
4. Jon-Henrik Fjällgren – Jag Är Fri (Manne Leam Frijje)
5. Jessica Andersson – Can’t Hurt Me Now
6. Måns Zelmerlöw – Heroes
7. Linus Svenning – Forever Starts Today
8. Isa – Don’t Stop
9. Magnus Carlsson – Möt Mig I Gamla Stan
10. Eric Saade – Sting
11. Mariette – Don’t Stop Believing
12. Hasse Andersson – Guld Och Gröna Skogar

NORWAY
Let's not forget Norway. MGP will be a one night affair this year, as the semi finals have been scrapped. I think Mørland & Debrah Scarlett will win. Their ballad is very strong and proving to be the favourite with the bookies. My first choice would be Alexandra Joner though. Her song is great fun. I also like Erlend Bratland and Staysman & Lazz. Is a well-done pizza on the menu for Norway tonight?

....AND ON SUNDAY?
Reports say Elnur Hüseynov will represent The Land of Fire - but nothing is official yet. We'll know Azerbaijan's representative and song tomorrow.. I expect great things from them! Elsewhere, Elhaida Dani's I'm Alive will be presented. And if that wasn't enough, the Russian entry is also going to be revealed..

Norway: Melodi Grand Prix participants announced!

Melodi Grand Prix will be a one night affair this year, on 14th March, and the eleven participating acts were revealed this morning. Check out the full lineup below:

• Alexandra Joner – Cinderella
• Contrazt – Heaven
• Erlend Bratland – Thunderstruck
• Ira Konstantidinis – We Don’t Worry
• Jenny Langlo – Next To You
• Karin Park – Human Beings
• Marie Klåpbakken – Ta meg tilbake
• Mørland & Debrah Scarlett – A Monster Like Me
• Raylee – Louder
• Staysman Lazz – En godt stekt pizza
• Tor & Bettan – All Over The World

The songs will be revealed sometime in February.

Norway: National final on 14th March, orchestra returns!

Norway's entry for Eurovision 2015 will be selected on 14th March in Oslo Spektrum Arena. Melodi Grand Prix and Melodifestivalen will therefore both be held the same day. NRK, the Norwegian national broadcaster, will bring back the long-awaited orchestra to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Eurovision. The general director said:

At NRK we are so lucky to have our own orchestra. We wish to use it in programs that have a wide appeal. We want to produce events that stand out so this is a nice way to make Melodi Grand Prix even bigger. 

There won't be any semi finals - and tickets should go on sale towards the end of the year. I'm looking forward to see what Norway has to offer next year.

Norway: Carl Espen wins "Melodi Grand Prix"!

What a fantastic result! Carl Espen will fly the Norwegian flag - one of the best songs this year without a doubt. Many fans are saying Norway could win the whole thing in Copenhagen... I defiantly think he has a shot. Oslo 2015?

When I heard "Silent Storm" for the first time, I knew there was something rather special about it. Linnea Dale came 2nd, her song was very pleasant. Meanwhile, Mo and Knut also made the super-final. The results:

1. Carl Epsen – Silent Storm / 53,712
2. Linnea Dale – High Hopes / 39,086
3. Mo – Heal / 37,405
4. Knut Kippersund Nesdal – Taste Of You / 27,757

It's worth remembering that Portugal will chose their entry at some point tonight. And wasn't Azerbaijan going to reveal their song? But for now, let's enjoy Silent Storm!

Norway: Representative to be selected tonight!

The grand final of "Melodi Grand Prix" will be held this evening. Norway always have great national selections and this year is no exception. I'm really looking forward to watching this tonight But who's going to be crowned the winner? My preference would be Carl Espen. His haunting ballad is without a doubt the big favourite to take the trophy tonight... My 2nd favourite is Linnea Dale. I have high hopes for her, too!

I predict Elisabeth Carew and Mo will make the super-final, but the winner should defiantly be between Carl Espen and Linnea Dale. The show will start at 19:55 CET and can be watched here. I'll defiantly be tuning in. This is tonight's running order - and doesn't Carl have a great draw?

1. El Cuero – Ain’t no Love (in This City No More)
2. Elisabeth Carew – Sole Survivor
3. Knut Kippersund Nesdal – Taste of You
4. Dina Misund – Needs
5. Mo – Heal
6. Linnea Dale – High Hopes
7. Charlie – Hit Me Up
8. Carl Espen – Silent Storm
9. Oda & Wulff – Sing

Norway: Mo survived 2011 Utøya massacre!

Mohamed Farah Abdi is one of the fifteen acts who hopes to represent Norway in Copenhagen. The Guardian has reported his personal struggles following the Utøya massacre in July 2011 where 69 people were killed. He managed to survive this terrifying ordeal although sadly lost his best friend.

Mo was a finalist on Norwegian X Factor in 2010 and was at the point of a massive breakthrough although after witnessing the terrifying attack on Utøya island, he has been struggling with post-traumatic stress and has disappeared completely from the public eye. He has now decided to enter Melodi Grand Prix - the Norwegian selection, with a song that has a strong personal meaning. The song he's competing with is entitled "Heal" and is a electro-pop ballad. He said:

"The song's about taking your time to heal. My goal is to inspire people and touch their hearts, that they should never, ever give up."

 It's a heartwarming story. The singer also said:

"It's important to keep your good friends and family around you, and that's what I did. I kept myself around people who really love me. That's the main thing that really got me through these years, and of course all of my supporters who really encouraged me to come back. They were just waiting, and that's really special."

The song will be released on 19th February!

Norway: Semi-finalists revealed!

The fifteen acts, which are in the running to represent Norway, have today been revealed in a special press conference! Adelén isn't going to return - although there was speculation she was going to make a comeback this year. Here are the lucky semi finalists!

Semifinal 1:

1. Hilda & Thea Leora - Best friend's boyfriend
2. Mo - Heal
3. Dina Misund - Needs
4. Linnea Fale - High hopes
5. Timbre & Fikk Heide-Steen feat. Ida Stein - Frozen by your love

Semifinal 2:

1. Cir.Cuz - Hele verden
2. Martine Marbel - Right now
3. Oda & Wulff - SIng
4. Knut Kippersund Nesdal - Taste of you
5. Charlie - Hit me up

Semifinal 3:

1. Moi - Bensin
2. El Cuero - Ain't no love in this city no more
3. Ilebek - Who needs the universe?
4. Elisabeth Carew - Sole survivor
5. Carl Espen - Silent storm

Snippets of each competing entry can be heard here!  The semi finals will be held on 7th, 8th and 9th March with the final taking place on 15th March.